Step 3: Neutralize. Create a thick paste out of baking soda and water. Apply to the spill to absorb it. Wait 1 or 2 minutes. Wipe up the mixture with paper towel and immediately put the soiled paper towel in the plastic bag. Apply another layer of the baking soda paste.
Causes of Bare Spots in the Lawn. Bare spots in your lawn can be the result of heavy foot traffic (causing soil compaction), drought, disease, chemical burn and weed or insect infestation. Before beginning repairs, you need to determine the source of your problem.
If the lawn has brown spots of grass or balding areas, it is possible that these lawn conditions are caused by grubs. Prior to planting new grass seeds, remove any grubs from the soil. An easy way to confirm a grub problem is to turn over the soil 3 inches deep to expose any existing grubs or eggs. If they are discovered in small amounts, manually remove them from the soil to halt the continuation of their life cycle and reproduction.